Small Towns:

St. Johnsbury, VT  |  Dillon, MT  |  Divide, CO  |  Port Townsend, WA
  
Spearfish, SD  |  Waynesville, NC

Spearfish, South Dakota:

Population: 12,000

Median Home Price: $173,500

Number of Stoplights: Nine

The Scene: A regional center for small-scale industry and higher education, Spearfish is also the northern gateway to the Black Hills National Forest and the staging ground for the annual Dakota Five-O mountain bike race.

OPTIONS: The Black Hills rank among the best mountain biking in the country. Ride 109 miles and cross more than 100 converted railway bridges, or have a go at mountain bike raceway Dakota 50, a narrow route that drops 2000 feet (610 meters) in one 7 mile (11 kilometer) stretch; snow shoe among the pines in Black Hills National Forest; or visit the Grand Canyon's baby sister, Spearfish Canyon.

OUTFITTER: Rent a mountain bike from Rushmore Mountain Sport ($40 a day) and tackle the Dakota 50 raceway--the route drops 2000 feet (610 meters) in one hearting stopping seven mile (10 kilometer) section.

GOOD EATS: The Bay Leaf Café (+1 605 642 5462) has great buffalo burgers, plus they're low in fat.

30 More Places to Live and Play:

Boise or Bust!

Outdoor Meccas  |  Adventure Cities  |  Small Towns

Cultural Hubs  |  Beach Towns  

Adventure's September 2006 issue features 31 amazing adventure towns; chaos at the top of Mount Everest; an inside look at surfing California's Lost Coast; 11 fall weekend getaways near you; the best high-tech footwear, world class adventure travel; hiking the Alps, and more!